What's with this Imuran?

[julia]

I started Imuran after cytoxin and have had no problems. I have noticed some achiness in the joints but that seems to follow my pred decreases , lasts the first week to 10 days than subsides. Never completly goes away but not even close to how I felt at diagnosis.

I had been on bactrim also, but the Dr. told me to stop it when I started Imuran.

[elephant]

Julia, do you still have joint pain? I had sever joint pain and once I started the prednisone and other immunosuppressants it went away. If you still have pain it might mean Imuran is not controlling it. Or they might have to increase it. How much Imuran are you on?

[julia]

elephant,
When I initally was dx had cytoxin/pred. Pain went away.
The joint pain started about 6 weeks after I started imuran, I was also decreasing pred and I think when I hit 20 mg is when it showed.
I really think it is related to decreasing the pred. It is not constant, usually when I stand after sitting for awhile. When I wake in the morning (or afternoon from a nap).
Each time I decrease the pred it is more noticable than subsides after a week -10 days. The Dr. said I can take tylenol but it really is not that bad.
Joint pain pre dx was 8.5 on a scale of 10. This joint pain is a 1.5 enough to know it is there but not enough to have great concern over.

I am taking 150 mg imuran
10 mg pred

[elephant]

Julia, the Imuran is a good dose. That is good that you are having less pain. Once you go below prednisone 10 mg, that's when you need to really listen to your body. That was a lesson I had to learn. Do you see a Wegeners specialist? Your close to Mayo.

[Sangye]

Ha! Elephant slipped that nag in so I don't have to!

Julia, it does sound like the joint pain is related to the pred since it subsides. I'm experiencing the same thing as I taper pred. I've had severe joint pain from Wegs and it doesn't feel like it at all. Totally different quality. Just go reaaaally slow on the pred taper so you don't wake up the Wegs. He's cranky when he wakes up.

[julia]

Sangye,

Thank you for the advice. I know now that I am at 10 it should go very slow. I just started 10 so I will not decrease until my next visit in June. I have read many of yours(and others) entries regarding pred and they have been very informative.

If I had the money and you the energy and time I would pay you to come to my office visits.

[Sangye]

LOL-- That's very nice of you! You'd have to keep poking me to stay awake--you might get sore elbows after awhile.

[firecracker]

I'm on imuran for the treatment of wg. I'm now on 100 mg a day. The first month, I would take it at night instead of the am because it made me fall asleep. That however, was after the violent throwing up for a straight thirty mins to an hour. I felt horrible every time I took it until about two months. I found that honey, if taken with it, kept me from throwing up. I've been on the full dose since April first and after a month o the full dose my bloodwork which previously was close to being in range was now as bad as last October. Because of the imuran, I developed a horrible sinus infection. Been on three diff antibiotics for over a month and a half. Still fighting it. Not sure if your symptoms are from it but mine subsided after two months and I don't have a problem taking it now. I hope u feel better soon.

[elephant]

Firecracker, sounds like a wegeners flare to me. Your sinus infection should of improved by now. Did they put you on Levaquin? That is a very strong antibiotic.

[firecracker]

Firecracker, sounds like a wegeners flare to me. Your sinus infection should of improved by now. Did they put you on Levaquin? That is a very strong antibiotic.

I was told being on the Imuran is most likely the cause of the delay in getting rid of the infection. I cant take levaquin or most of the antibiotics they wanted to put me on. I took doxycycline and cephalexin together then they changed me to clindamycin which helped in three days but it just keeps clearing up for a day or so then comes back. They may admit me and put me on iv antiobiotics. my ent did numerous cultures on different appts and nothing came back. I put the stuff under my microscope and saw mold so I have been using my intraconazole rinse and taking the antibiotics to kind of keep a balance. My workplace has mold. I can tell because the minute i get there, my face burns inside and that was how it was at my old workplace that osha found mold in. I always was a mess there and lately, i have been at my current building.. just not as bad. I forgot to mention about the imuran. Since i have been on it, the bottoms of my feet hurt really bad to stand or walk. They feel like i have been standing or walking all day when i have not been at all. A lot of the docs said it was from the 40lb weight gain from the prednisone. well i have been lowered to 10mg of pred since april and lost a ton of water weight, stil have the pain in my feet so... imuran it is. Usually when the wg flares, I get tons of blood and clots coming out of my nose and sinuses...whats left of them. Ive only had a little bit of that. mainly just that nasty green from the infection i had/have. it seems better then i get that pressure .. like i had yesterday and today.. yet again. calling my ent today and i see my rheum tomorrow to get my new blood test results.